KATHMANDU, July 2: Nepal wants to maintain a balanced relationship with all friendly countries, including neighbours India and China, stress on economic diplomacy and pursue a new style based on national interest, Minister for Foreign Affairs Shisir Khanal said Thursday.
Talking about his recent visit to India, which was the first high-level contact between the two countries after the formation of the new government in Nepal in March, Khanal said the visit may be termed as a “special one.” During his visit to India from June 5-7, Khanal held wide-ranging talks with External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar and also met National Security Advisor Ajit Doval.
“We have placed economic collaboration as the focal point during the discussions. As bilateral mechanisms have become active and operational as a result of my recent official visit to India. The visit may be termed as a special one,” Khanal told the National News Agency of Nepal.
Result oriented discussions were held on a wide range of issues including trade, energy, connectivity, investment and border management during my visit, he pointed out, adding both sides have expressed their commitments to resolve border issues and misunderstandings that have surfaced over the past few years.
His trip to New Delhi came against the backdrop of a raging controversy triggered by Nepalese Prime Minister Balendra Shah’s remarks in May on the boundary row between the two sides. Shah had suggested the involvement of China and the UK to resolve the issue; New Delhi had categorically rejected any third party involvement to resolve the row. After his India trip, Khanal visited Beijing on a four-day visit from June 14, during which he held comprehensive and in-depth talks with his Chinese counterpart Wang Yi and other senior political leaders.
On Thursday, Khanal asserted that the new government in Nepal wants to establish cordial friendly relations with all the neighbours as well as development partners.
“We are effortful to maintain a balanced relationship with all friendly countries, including neighbours India and China, stress on economic diplomacy and to pursue a new style of diplomacy based on national interest and maintain natural relations with all countries,” he said. (PTI)
